Fire Risk

[Wheelbrace]

Is there a fire risk by leaving such items as broadband hubs, electric razors and toothbrushes and mobile phones on charge overnight or when leaving the house for extended periods?

[AlBags]

No : )

Just keep away from water. Old batteries or faults can cause overheating of batteries on charge, but combustion is extremely unlikely.

[scotman]

Yes.

Anything plugged in creates a fire risk. The likelihood of these things you mention causing trouble is very slight. What do you mean by 'extended periods'?

[heathfield]

The Scottish government recently ran a TV ad in which they advised everyone to unplug unattended rechargable devices. Presumably they wouldn't have paid to run such an ad if they didn't think there was some kind of risk involved, however small.
HSE also advise not to leave electrical equipment, such as a TV, on 'standby' if it is unattended. This was because they were aware of 5 (repeat, 5) cases in the UK where a TV on standby had caused a fire. So however small rhe risk, there's still a risk, I guess.

[eastern]

I don't want to scare anyone with regard to appliances being left on but I recently came back from a weekend away and my fridge had caught fire!!! Apparently it is a fault in certain models of Samsung fridges, trust it to be mine!! Also I know of two people who have had fires caused by mobile phone chargers bursting into flames, they were left switched on with no phone attached and overheated. Basically turn off everything that is not being used when you are away from your property.

[Wheelbrace]

Thanks everyone for your contributions. I think it would be better policy to switch off when leaving the premises but there seems to be an absence of any advice . Too big an industry to rock the boat methinks. I might make an exception for my electric toothbrush!

[AlBags]

Good for you.
Some of this is scaremongery.